Canada-Saudi Business Council

What Canada-Saudi Business Council does

The Canada-Saudi Business Council (CSBC) is a Toronto-based, non-profit bilateral trade facilitation organization founded in November 2015 to foster business, trust, and transformation between Canada and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It operates as the recognized partner council under Saudi Arabia's General Authority for Foreign Trade (GAFT) and as a sister entity to the Saudi-Canadian Business Council, holding direct institutional ties to Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Investment (MISA), the Council of Saudi Chambers, and the Saudi Embassy in Canada. The organization maintains a 1–10 person team out of its headquarters at 4 King Street West, Toronto, and runs on a membership-funded model serving Canadian companies seeking Saudi market entry and Saudi entities seeking Canadian partnerships across sectors including mining, financial services, aerospace, infrastructure, AI, education, and life sciences. Following the restoration of full Canada–Saudi diplomatic relations in May 2023, the council was reactivated and now maintains a high-cadence schedule of reciprocal ministerial delegations and sector trade missions between Toronto and Riyadh.

The council's commercial offering is structured around two annual membership tiers: a Corporate Member tier at $11,130 CAD ($10,000 + HST) and a Leadership Circle Member tier at $28,250 CAD ($25,000 + HST), with the publicly identified Leadership Circle comprising Barrick, BMO, Bombardier, Brookfield, Hampton Securities, Hatch, and Weatherhaven. Core products and services include the two-tier membership program, trade delegation events and bilateral forums (e.g., Canada Saudi Business Forum I in 2015 and II in 2017, the Saudi Canadian SME Forum I in 2016, an Aramco Canada Supplier Forum in 2018, and an Aerospace/Defense/Infrastructure/AI delegation accompanying the Canadian Trade Minister to MISA in January 2026), a published newsletter, a Saudi Market Insights content portal, and visa/travel assistance. The technology stack is minimal — a GoDaddy-hosted website with reCAPTCHA integration — and the organization is not a software product company.

The business model is membership-driven and non-profit. Revenue mechanics consist of recurring annual subscriptions from Corporate and Leadership Circle members, supplemented by episodic event-related fees. Go-to-market is event-driven and community-led, anchored on bilateral trade delegations, sector-specific missions, and convenings at major Saudi events (Future Investment Initiative, Future Minerals Forum, LEAP, World Defense Show, Global Health Exhibition). Customer segmentation is horizontal by geography: Canadian companies seeking Saudi market entry and Saudi entities seeking Canadian partnerships, with a secondary government and educational-institution stakeholder base. The 20,000+ Saudi students enrolled in Canadian post-secondary institutions and over $1.2 billion CAD in cumulative Canadian investment in Saudi Arabia are highlighted as indicators of bilateral market depth the council seeks to service.

Name

Canada-Saudi Business Council

Legal name

Canada-Saudi Business Council

Website

https://csabc.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Canada-Saudi Business Council is a Toronto-based non-profit, founded in 2015, that facilitates bilateral trade and investment between Canada and Saudi Arabia through tiered corporate memberships, trade delegations, and diplomatic engagement, serving Canadian companies seeking Saudi market entry and Saudi entities seeking Canadian partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Bilateral Trade Facilitation and Business Council Services

NAICS

Business Associations (813910), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Professional Organizations (813920), Convention and Trade Show Organizers (56192)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Association & Society Conference Management (Nonprofit, Professional Bodies) (THAHACAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Executive Summits & Invitation-Only Forums (MPAGAGAK), Government & Public Sector Conferences (MPAGAGAH), Protocol, State Visits & Diplomatic Events Management (BPAIAIAJ)

Keywords

• Bilateral trade facilitation
• Membership business council
• International trade delegations
• Market entry advisory
• Cross-border investment networking

Headquarters

HQ city

Toronto

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Corporate Membership Fees: Annual corporate membership provides companies with invitations to CSBC receptions and events, corporate logo placement on CSBC publications and website, VIP table access at the Annual CSBC forum/dinner, and visa assistance with discounted airline and hotel rates. Priced at $10,000 + $1,130 HST = $11,130 CAD annually.
2. Leadership Circle Membership Fees: Premium annual membership tier offering primary logo placement on CSBC publications and website, two VIP tables at the Annual CSBC forum/dinner, head table priority location, complimentary invitations to pre-event VIP receptions, and membership for up to 10 company representatives. Priced at $25,000 + $3,250 HST = $28,250 CAD annually.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The CSBC operates a membership-based bilateral business council that connects Canadian and Saudi companies through two annual membership tiers, recurring trade delegations and forums, market intelligence on Saudi Vision 2030 opportunities, and government-level facilitation services. Members receive event invitations, corporate logo placement, VIP table access at the annual CSBC forum/dinner, visa and travel assistance, and direct introductions to Saudi decision-makers including the Ministry of Investment (MISA).

Product overview

The Canada-Saudi Business Council is a membership-based business organization, not a technology product company. It operates as a bilateral trade facilitation body connecting Canadian and Saudi businesses. The core offering consists of Corporate Membership and Leadership Circle Membership tiers that provide access to networking events, trade delegations, VIP receptions, and market intelligence. Supporting services include trade partnership facilitation, Saudi market insights publication, and organized trade mission events. The organization does not offer a software product, platform, or digital tools—it functions as a traditional business council providing relationship-building and market access services to its members.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Corporate Membership Annual corporate membership tier priced at $10,000 + $1,130 HST ($11,130 CAD total), providing invitations to all CSBC receptions and events, corporate logo placement on CSBC publications and website, one VIP table at the Annual CSBC forum/dinner, and visa assistance with discounted airline and hotel rates.
• Leadership Circle Membership Premium annual membership tier priced at $25,000 + $3,250 HST ($28,250 CAD total), providing primary logo placement on CSBC publications and website, two VIP tables at the Annual CSBC forum/dinner, head table priority location, complimentary invitations to pre-event VIP receptions, and membership for up to 10 company representatives.
• Trade Delegation Events Organized trade missions, sector-specific delegations, and business forums between Canada and Saudi Arabia, including visits by government ministers (e.g., Trade Minister visit to MISA in January 2026), investment delegations (e.g., H.E. Khalid A. Al-Falih visit in November 2025), and industry-specific trade missions in aerospace, defense, infrastructure, AI, healthcare, and other sectors.
• Market Insights and Intelligence Saudi market insights publication and intelligence covering Vision 2030 opportunities, key Saudi events (Future Investment Initiative, Future Minerals Forum, Global Health Exhibition, LEAP Tech Conference, World Defense Show, Saudi Food Show, Saudi Build Expo, Riyadh Season), economic indicators, and bilateral trade statistics to help Canadian companies navigate the Saudi market.
• CSBC Newsletter Regular newsletter publication featuring council updates, member profiles, upcoming event calendars, and bilateral trade and investment opportunities across Canada and Saudi Arabia, with downloadable PDF issues distributed by email.

Quantifiable outcome

• Bilateral trade exceeding $5 billion CAD annually between Canada and Saudi Arabia
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• Aramco Services CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 April 2018CSBC hosted an exclusive Canada Supplier Forum with Aramco Services in Calgary (April 2018), connecting Canadian suppliers with Saudi Aramco procurement opportunities. Mr. Basil Abul Hamayel, President and CEO of Aramco Services, participated in the event.
• Saudi-Canadian Business Council (sister council)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Saudi-Canadian Business Council is the official sister council in Saudi Arabia, recognized by GAFT (General Authority for Foreign Trade). The two councils work together to strengthen bilateral trade, investment, and strategic ties between Canada and Saudi Arabia. This partnership provides the CSBC with official standing in the Saudi market and direct access to Saudi government facilitation services.
• General Authority for Foreign Trade (GAFT)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerGAFT is the Saudi government authority responsible for foreign trade regulation and promotion. The CSBC holds official partner council status recognized by GAFT, providing legitimacy and privileged access to Saudi trade facilitation services and government connections.
• Future Investment Initiative (FII) InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe FII Institute is a key Saudi event organizer hosting the annual Future Investment Initiative conference. The CSBC facilitates Canadian participation in this major investment-focused event as part of its mission to promote Canadian businesses in Saudi Arabia.
• Ministry of Investment Saudi Arabia (MISA)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerMISA is the Saudi government ministry responsible for investment promotion and facilitation. The CSBC works closely with MISA delegations, hosting reciprocal visits (including October 2025 and November 2025 high-level visits) and facilitating Canadian company engagement with Saudi investment opportunities.
• Council of Saudi ChamberscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Council of Saudi Chambers is the umbrella organization for Saudi business chambers. The CSBC collaborated with the council on the Saudi Canadian SME Forum I held in Riyadh in April 2016, facilitating connections between small and medium enterprises in both countries.
• Muslim World League (MWL)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerH.E. Jeffrey Steiner, Chair of the CSBC, met with H.E. Sheikh Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa, Secretary-General of the Muslim World League, in Riyadh (August 2024) to explore potential collaboration opportunities.
• Export Development Canada (EDC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerExport Development Canada is Canada's export credit agency. CSBC Chair Jeffrey Steiner previously served as a board member of EDC, creating a strong connection between the council and Canada's primary export financing institution for Saudi-bound trade.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CanadaSaudiBiz
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/canada-saudi-business-council

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Canada-Saudi Business Council